A few weeks back I wrote about the new ice rink at Quanfa Garden. As well as providing training and coaching for ice hockey, they now have public skating available too. If you like the idea of keeping fit through dance and aerobics, and you love nothing more than to samba or salsa, then you need to try Zumba. Dance and music is great for young children’s development too, and Shunyi has classes and groups available for babies through to preschoolers. The latest round of parent effectiveness classes will begin again in Shunyi next month.

Public Skating at Quanfa Garden On Saturday afternoons from 4.15-5.45pm the new ice rink is open for public skating. This is a great chance to get your skates on, have some fun, and get some exercise too. They have limited rental skates available, so it might be worth checking Roundabout or Decathlon, if you’re thinking of purchasing your own. Kids will also need to have a helmet, a bicycle or skateboard helmet is ideal. The rink is also offering a learn-to-skate program, beginning with ice hockey, but with a plan to introduce figure skating coaching too. Haotai Ice Sports Center Maquanying, Quanfa Garden North Gate, Chaoyang District (8575 9826, cdracz@gmail.com) www.centericeasia.com

New Zumba and Aerobics Classes Human in Motion (HIM) fitness studio in Shunyi, has a new fitness instructor on its team, enabling them to expand the range of classes on offer. Frida Metz recently moved from Germany to Beijing. Metz has a Bachelor of Fitness Economy, Aerobic and Step Instructor Certification, plus Zumba and Rehabilitation Certifications. She speaks fluent German, Spanish, and English, and was teaching at Injoy fitness center in Germany prior to moving to Beijing.

Music Together If you are looking for an activity for both you and your little ones, Music Together of MiCho Education is ideal. It is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and for accompanying adults too. As a childhood music curriculum, it has strong emphasis on adult involvement. Fully trained, registered teachers lead groups of six to twelve children, and their parents or caregivers, in 45 minutes of music and movement experiences.

Baby Group The Children’s House Baby Group resumed this week. Bring your little ones along to Yosemite every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 2-3pm. Fun and interactive for the children, and an opportunity for parents to socialize. Suitable for parents with children aged from 0-18 months. The Monday session is Interaction Art and Play, which incorporates simple art activities to promote hand-eye co-ordination, concentration, and creativity. Tuesday is MusikGarten, with singing, dancing, chanting, and beating rhythms on simple instruments. Wednesday is Baby Gym, giving babies the chance to stretch, roll, crawl, and be massaged.

For a limited time only, they are offering twenty free classes to the first twenty parents who sign up for the group. Please note there are no Baby Group sessions on October 1-7. For an application form contact (8041 7083, paulazhou@montessoribeijing.com) www.montessoribeijing.com

Effective Parenting Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) is for those parents looking for some support and guidance, with the difficult moments in the most important job of all – being a parent. P.E.T. has been shown to be effective with children and adults of all ages, from the very young to older teens. The course covers aspects such as listening effectively, confronting difficult behavior, and resolving conflict.

The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB) is host to the next P.E.T. course, starting October 21. Every Tuesday morning 9am-12pm, the course is open to all parents in the community, not just MSB parents. The course consists of eight sessions, and parents are expected to attend every session. Contact Naomi to register for a place, a deposit is required prior to the course start date (186 1009 0164, counsellingwithnaomi@hotmail.co.uk) www.counsellingwithnaomi.com